August 3, 2011, St. Petersburg, Fla., Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche

The airplane collided with the ground during initial takeoff climb at about 1111 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing and airframe. The commercial pilot and three passengers reported minor injuries; one passenger received serious injuries.

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Key Takeaways:

  • An airplane crashed during initial takeoff climb due to an accelerated stall, resulting in structural damage and injuries to occupants.
  • The pilot over-rotated, retracted the landing gear but not the flaps, causing airspeed to drop and the left wing to stall.
  • Following the stall, the pilot lost directional control, leading to the collision with the ground.
  • The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries, while one passenger received serious injuries.
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The airplane collided with the ground during initial takeoff climb at about 1111 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing and airframe. The commercial pilot and three passengers reported minor injuries; one passenger received serious injuries.

The pilot stated he over-rotated the airplane and retracted the landing gear. He did not retract the flaps. The airspeed decreased to 69 mph, and the airplane entered an accelerated stall. The left wing dropped down, and he immediately lowered the nose and leveled the wings. He lost directional control of the airplane and it collided with the ground.

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